Condenser for cotton-presses



J. A. TAFT.

CONDENSER FOR COTTON, PRESSES.

APPHCATION FILED JULY 12. 1911.

Patented May 24, 1921.

a SHEEIS-SHEET l.

J. A. TVAFT.

CONDENSER FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1917.

1,379,229. Patented May 24, 1921.

5 SHEEISSHEET J. A TAFT.

CONDENSER FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLICATION mu) JULY 12, 1911.

1 379 229 Patented May 24, 1921.

1. A.-TAFT.

CONDENSER FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLICATION mzo JULY 12. 1911.

Patented May24, 1921.

5 SHEEIS-SHEET 4.

J. A. TAFT.

CONDENSER FOR COTTON PRESSES,

APPLICATION mm mm! 12. 1911.

1,379,229. Patented May 24,1921.

5 SHEEIS-SHEET 54 a q i a a5 a g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. TAFT, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO K. H. DICKSON, OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. G. R. BENNETT, OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS, AND J. M. BENNETT AND S. J. BROOKS, OF BEXAR COUNTY,

TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CONDENSER FOR COTTON-PRESSES.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application filed July 12, 1917. Serial No. 180,136.

To all whom it may concem Be it known that I, J OHN A. TAFT, a citizen of the. United States, and a resident of the city of San Antonio, county of Bexar, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers for Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to cotton bale presses, and specifically to a condenser or bat forming device for u e in connection therewith.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a condenser for producing a bat of uniform thickness having both sides thereof finished or smoothed, and having the edges uniform.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the condenser with means whereby the supply of cotton may be regulated to produce a bat having a uniform density.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a condenser having a central compartment in which the cotton is permitted to accumulate to form the bat, and supplemental compartments at the sides thereof forming air fines for the escape of the air supplied to the condenser with the cotton.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a condenser having a receiving drum and a pair of bat forming rolls positioned at an incline with relation thereto for receiving the cotton from the receivingdrum and forming it into a bat.

nother object of this invention is to divide the receiving drum by a partition in such manner that the thickness of cotton on either half of the drum may be varied at will.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the bat forming rolls with manually controlled driving means whereby they may be automatically operated at will.

Still another and principal object of this invention is to provide pressure rolls for receiving the bat from the bat forming rolls, and rotating the same at different s eeds whereby the bat is ironed and the air expressed therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the accumulator chamber with means for collecting the dust contained in the mass of cotton lint and separating the same therefrom.

These and other objects together with at tendant advantages will be apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the accompanying specification, and drawings formlng a part thereof, throughout the several views of which like reference characters designate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly broken away, of my improved condenser showing the same mounted on a double press or bale forming machine.

Fig. 2 is a view artly in section on the lines A-B, C--D, E-F of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the condenser.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the condenser showing the reverse side from Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the clutches for controlling the bat forming rolls.

It is well recognized that in order to produce a perfect cylindrical bale of cotton, it is highly essential to supply a bat having a uniform density and cross section throughout. In order to form such a bat several things must be taken into consideration. A condenser of the present nature is connected by a lint flue to a series of gin stands which remove the cotton lint from the seeds. These gin stands are usually provided with a plurality of brushes which are useful in brushing lint out of the gin saw teeth, and in producing an air blast which aids in blowing the cotton from the gin stands through the lint flue into the condenser. The number of gin stands in operation at any one time may wiry so that the amount of cotton as well as the air pressure for feeding the same through the lint flue, are subject to wide changes. It is necessary, there fore, to provide means for compensating for these changes, so that regardless of the conditions under which the cotton fiber is supplied to the condenser a uniform bat will be produced.

A considerable amount of foreign matter is carried over into the condenser with the cotton and means must be provided for preventing the accumulation of these foreign substances so as to interfere with the air currents, and with the quality of the bat produced.

It has been found that the cotton has a tendency to move from the faster moving currents of air into the slower moving currents of air, so that by controllingthe velocity of the air in a given portion of the lint fine, the distribution of the cotton may be kept regular and uniform.

'Referring now more particularly to the drawings my improved condenser preferably comprises a main casing 1 formed of sheet iron or like material the various parts of which may be secured together in any convenient manner. The casing is mounted on standards 2 by which it is supported upon and above the head frames 4 of a suitable baling press for producing circular bales of cotton. The casing of the condenser in its preferred form comprises a rectangular portion 5 constituting a lint flue which is connected to gin stands of any desired construction for supplying cotton fiber thereto. This portion is in communication with a discharge or accumulator chamber 6 containing the mechanism for producing a bat as will be hereinafter more fully described. Mounted on'the opposite sides of the rectangular portion are air flues 7 having extensions 8 in communication therewith and extending down the sides of the accumulator chamber.

Mounted in the rectangular portion of the condenser which for sake of convenience may be termed the receiving chamber, there is a receiving drum 9 on the shaft 10 passing transversely through the receiving chamber and the air flues and journaled in casing. The drum heads preferably comprise spoked wheels lying in the plane of the casing dividing the receiving chamber from the air flues and-forming an air esraminous material which preventsthe pas sage of cotton fiber therethrough, but permits the free passage of air. A centrally positioned solid partition 15 divides the drum into twoequal compartments so that the air currents in each of the compartments may be controlled at will, so that the bat may be formed of a uniform amount of material throughout as will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Mounted below the receiving drum is a dust collecting chamber 16 adapted toreceive theforeign, matters from the cotton fiber so that a bale of high quality may be produced. The dust chamber is provided with a reticulated covering 17 curved to conform to the curvature of the receiving drum to which it is concentric. A slide 18 may be provided for permitting easy accessto the dust chamber for emptying the same as may be necessary. In order that an accumulation of cotton on the covering 17 may be prevented, scraper blades 19 aresecured to the periphery of the receiving drum in such manner that they will wipe across the face of the dust screen during the rotation thereof.

For driving the drum there is provided a pulley 20 on the shaft 10, having a driw mg belt 2i receiving power from any suitair flues, so as to form air escape passage ways therebetwcen. The rolls are formed of foraminous material similar to that used in the construction of the receiving drum to permit the remaining air contained in the cotton to readily pass therethrough "into the interior of the rolls, as it is fed be-v tween the adjacent faces thereof. The shafts 25 of the bat forming rolls are dis posed in different vertical planes so that a line drawn tangent to the upper surfaces of both rolls will lie in an inclined plane facing the receiving drum and with the rolls disposed in the zone of centrifugal projection from the drum. It has been found that this construction is useful in I aiding in the even distribution of cotton plllow blocks 11 carried by the condenser fiber on the faces of the different rolls, and that the use of rolls of substantially the same size contribute to the formation of a uni form bat by virtue of the fact that fiber in substantially equal amounts is accumulated on the respective rolls, with'the result that when it is condensed into a single bat such bat will be of uniform thickness and density and. have even upper and lower surfaces. Bearings 27, supported on the extensions 8 of the air flues, are provided for the shafts 25. These shafts preferably project a considerable distance beyond the bearings and carry on their outer ends sprockets 28 loosely mounted thereon, and adapted to be connected in driving relation therewith through sliding clutch members 29 controlled by levers 30, having pivotal mountings 31 on a base plate 32. The inner ends of the levers are disposed in overlapped relationship to receive a common operating handle 34 pivotally mounted in a standard 35 on the air flue for simultaneously engaging and operating both of the clutches. By means of this construction it is possible to prevent rotation of the bat forming rolls until a sufficient amount of cotton has collected thereon to form a bat having the desired thickness.

The driving mechanism for the bat forming rolls may comprise a pulley 36 on one end of the shaft of the receiving drum, having a belted connection 37 with the pulley 38 on the jack shaft 39 journaled in the condenser casing. The shaft 39 carries on its opposite end a gear 40 transmitting power to a pressure roll mechanism which in turn drives the bat forming rolls as will be hereinafter more full pointed out.

After the bat leaves t e forming rolls 24, it passes between a pair of pressure rolls 41 mounted on shafts 42 journaled in the casing of the condenser. The journals for one of the shafts are preferably yieldingly retained in position by springs 44 having adjusting means 45 for varying the tension exerted by the springs on the journals. By reason of this construction irregularities, which ma occur in the bat, pass easily between the rol s, and the pressure exerted on the bat may be increased or decreased at will. A transmission shaft 43 has a gear 46 secured to one end thereof in such position as to mesh with the gear 40 on the jack shaft 39. 0n the opposite side from the gear 46, the shafts 42 are provided with sprockets 47 and 48 respectively, the sprocket 48 preferably being of a slightly greater diameter than the sprocket 47. A continuous sprocket chain 49.passes around the sprocket ears 47 and 48 on the pressure roll shafts. the sprockets 28 on the bat forming roll shafts and the sprocket 50 on the shaft 43. The chain 49 insures the rotation of the forming rolls and pressure rolls simultaneously if the clutches are in operative position. Due to the fact that the sprocket 47 has fewer teeth than sprocket 48, it is driven at a higher rate of speed, thereby causing the adjacent faces of the pressure rolls to have different peripheral speeds of rotation. This feature has been found very desirable, as it produces an ironing action which effectively cxpels any air remaining in the bat, and produces a smooth surface on both sides thereof.

After leavin the pressure rolls, the finished bat is directed to either of the bale forming presses at will by a pivotally mounted valve or gate controlled by the handle 51 lying at one side of the casing. In its final passage through the condenser the bat comes into engagement with the gradually contracting sides 52 thereof, so that in the event the edges are uneven or straggly, they will be pressed inwardly into a uniform mass, so that the bale produced therefrom may have the same amount of cotton in the ends as in the central portion.

Completed cylindrical bales formed on machines of this type are preferably wound with suitable bagging. For carrying this, there is a bagging reel 54 driven from the pulley 55, on one of the pressure roll shafts, by the belt 56; and a reel 57 driven from a pulley 58, on the shaft 43, by a belt 59. Each of these bagging reels supplies bagging to its respective press.

Since in actual operation of a condenser of this type the number of gins supplying cotton thereto is often changed, it will be obvious that the amount of cotton as well as the air pressure may vary within comparatively wide limits. It is necessary that some means he provided for keeping the distribution of the cotton as uniform as possible. It has been found that where air currents of different velocities exist, the cotton has a tendency to move from the more rapidly moving air currents into the slower moving currents, so that the de osit of cotton on the receiving drum wil be thickest at that portion lying in the zone of the slower moving air currents. In order to regulate the air conditions, and thereby regulate the amount of cotton deposited on the receiving drum adjacent either of the compartments formed by the partition 1?, I have provided dampers 60 independently slidable in the lint flue to establish a larger or smaller opening in either half thereof for the passage of the fiber. It will be obvious that each of the slides 60 is effective for controlling the air velocities in one of the compartments formed in the receiving drum.

Even after the air has left the lint flue and passed into the air flues, I have found that beneficial results may be obtained by regulating its velocity in these flues. For this purpose dampers 61 may be provided rotatably supported on shafts 62. After the air passes the dampers it is permitted to escape into the atmosphere through any convenient form of stack.

In order that access may be readily had to any portion of the condenser casing, suitably positioned slides S may be mounted thereon at convenient points.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation of the condenser will be obvious. This operation may be briefly summarized by stating that the cotton passing through the lint fluc in the rectangular receiving portion of the condenser onto the receiving drum is controlled by slides adjustable in the flue. The air contained in the cotton is permitted to readily escape therefrom through the perforated covering on the drum and thence through the spokcd heads of the same into the air flues. The dust and the like contained in the cotton is separated therefrom and passes into the dust chamber at the bottom of the receiving chamber. The cotton fiber in this state is thrown evenly onto the inclined surface of the bat forming rolls in the accumulator chamber, and upon rotation of these rolls is compressed, as it passes between their adjacent faces, into a bat. Due to the fact that these rolls have perforated covers, still more of the air is forced from the fibers through the covers into the interior of the rolls, from which it passes into the extensions of the air fines through the hollow drum heads. The bat in this condition then passes to the pressure rolls which are rotated at different speeds to iron and smooth the bat to produce a finished article having very little air left therein and having fiat surfaces. The engagement of thebat with the contracted sides of the easing'makes the edges thereof uniform, so that the bat as it is finally directed to the machine for forming a bale has a uniform cross sectional area throughout.

While I have described the preferred form of machine for carrying out my invention, it will be'obvious that changes may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

lVhat I claim is 1. A condenser for baling presses, comprising a main casing having a receiving chamber, a receiving drum rotatably mounted therein, means dividing the interior of the drum into independent compartments, and means in the receiving chamber controlling the passage of fiber to the portion of the drum surrounding each of the compartments.

2. A condenser for baling presses, comprising a main casing having a receiving chamber, a receiving drum rotatably mounted therein, means dividing the interior of the drum into independent compartments, and independently operable means in the receiving chamber controlling the passage of fiber to the portion of the drum surrounding each of the compartments.

3. A condenser for baling presses comprising a main casing having a receiving chamber, air flues on opposite sides of said chamber, a receiving drum rotatably mount-- ed in said chamber and having communication with said fiues, a partition dividing the interior of said drum into independent compartments, and means to control the air conditions in said receiving chamber adjacent either of said compartment-s.

1. A condenser of the class described, having a continuous chamber, a receiving drum rotatably mounted in said chamber, and bat forming rolls rotatably mounted in the chamber in association with the drum, the axes of said bat forming rolls being below the axis of the drum and lying in different vertical and horizontal planes.

5. A condenser of the class described, including a chamber, a receiving drum rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a lint selecting peripheral wall, bat forming rolls in said chamber constructed to accumulate lint on their peripheral walls, said Walls eral surface of the drum, means for operating the drum to project lint gathered on its peripheral surface to the accumulating rolls, and means for operating the rolls to form lint received thereon into a hat.

7. A bat forming device for baling presses, comprising a pair of bat forming rolls having cooperating lint accumulating peripheral walls, means for supplying lint to said rolls, means for operating said rolls to condense lint accumulated on them separately into a common bat, and means for selectively varying the effectiveness of said means to regulate the density of-the hat.

8. A bat forming device for baling presses, comprising a pair of bat forming rolls having peripheral lint accumulating walls of equal extent, means for supplying lint to said rolls, driving means for operating said rolls to condense lint received thereon into a bat, and means operable at will for varying the operation of said drivihg means relative to the lint supplying means during the formation of the bat.

'9, A bat forming device for baling presses, comprising bat forming rolls ,having perforated peripheral lint receiving walls for permitting passage of air there through, means for inducing movement of air through saidwalls, means for supplying lint to said walls; means for operating the walls to condense lint thereon into a bat, and means for varying the effectiveness of the operating means to regulate the density of the bat formed.

10. A bat forming mechanism for baling presses, comprising a pair of bat forming rolls, means for supplying lint thereto, means for operating said rolls to form a continuous bat from lint supplied thereto, and selectively operable means for controlling the operation of the rolls to regulate the density of the bat formed.

11. A bat forming mechanism for baling presses comprising bat forming rolls, pres sure rolls for receiving the bat therefrom,

and means for driving said pressure rolls at different speeds to iron the bat during its passage therebetween. v a

12. In a bat forming mechanism for baling presses, a pair of bat forming rolls, and a pair of pressure rolls receiving the bat therefrom, said pressure rolls being operative to iron the bat during its passage therebetween by subjecting the opposite surfaces to unequal conditions.

13. In a condenser for forming a bat for baling presses, a plurality of bat forming rolls, pressure rolls receiving the bat therefrom, and a conduit for guiding the bat from the rolls, said conduit including convergent walls arranged for engagement by the bat in its progressive movement.

14. A bat forming mechanism for baling presses, having means for compressing the bat to decrease the thickness thereof, and means for compressing the bat to decrease the Width thereof.

15. A condenser casing having a gradually contracted outlet, means in said casing for forming a bat, and means for forcing the bat through said outlet.

16. A condenser of the class described, comprising a main casing, a receiving drum therein having open ends lying in the plane of the sides of said casing, an accumulator casing having bat forming rolls therein having open ends lying in the plane of the sides of said accumulator casing, and air flues on said casings adapted to communicate with the interior of said drum and rolls through said open ends.

17. A condenser of the class described, comprising a receivin chamber, a receiving drum therein, means or rotating said drum, an accumulator casing adapted to receive cotton from said drum, a pair of bat forming rolls journaled in said casing, a pair of pressure rolls for receiving said bat, means for driving one of the pressure rolls from the receiving drum, and means for driving the other pressure roll and the bat forming rolls from said first mentioned pressure roll.

18. A condenser of the class described, comprising a receiving chamber, a receiving drum therein, means for rotating said drum, an accumulator casing adapted to receive cotton from said drum, a pair of bat forming rolls journaled in said casing, a pair of pressure rolls for ironing said bat, means for driving one of the pressure rolls from the receiving drum, and endless means passing around all of said rolls for driving the same in unison with said driven pressure roll.

19. A condenser of the class described, comprising a receiving chamber, a receiving drum mounted therein, means for rotating said drum, an accumulator casing adapted to receive cotton from said drum, a pair of bat forming rolls journaled in said casing, a pair of pressure rolls for ironing said bat, means for driving one of the pressure rolls from the receiving drum, means for driving the other pressure roll and the bat forming rolls from said first mentioned pressure roll, and means for controlling at will the operation of the bat forming rolls.

20. In a condenser of the class described, a receiving chamber, a drum rotatable in said chamber, an accumulator casing extending to one side of said chamber, a pair of bat forming rolls in theaccumulator casing having their axes lying in a common inclined plane and having their peripheral walls disposed in the zone of centrifugal projection from the drum and adapted to collect cotton as the same is thrown from the drum.

21. The method of forming a cotton hat of uniform density, which consists in subjecting a mass of fibers to pressure in one direction to produce a sheet of uniform thickness throughout the main body thereof; and then subjecting said sheet to pressure at substantially right angles to said first mentioned pressure to give the sheet a uniform width throughout.

22. The method of forming a cotton bat of uniform thickness, which consists in passing a mass of fibers between rolls to form a sheet; and then drawing said sheet between converging Walls to smooth the edges thereof.

23. In a lint condenser, the combination of lint accreting means, bat forming and compressing means, means for moving the bat progressively, and means effective to condense the marginal portions of the bat during its movement from the compressing means.

A lint condenser including a casing having an inlet and an outlet, lint accreting mechanism disposed in the casing adjacent the inlet, bat forming mechanism associated with the accreting mechanism and including bat compressing and feeding means, and a conduit for the bat disposed adjacent the outlet and associated with the bat feeding means; said conduit including oppositely arranged cooperating portions effective upon the margins of the bat to decrease its width in its passage from the feeding means.

25. A lint condenser including a casing having an inlet and an outlet, lint accreting mechanism disposed in the casing adjacent the inlet, bat forming mechanism associated with the accreting mechanism and including bat compressing and feeding means, and a conduit for the bat disposed adjacent the outlet and associated with the bat feeding means; said conduit including oppositely arranged cooperating portions effective to shape the margins of the bat in its passage from the feeding means.

26. In a lint condensin machine, the combination of lint accreting means, bat forming rollers having lint accumulating peripheral walls, and a bat sizing conduit for transmitting the bat from the rolls; said conduit including side walls converging from the width of said lint accumulating walls.

bination of lint accreting means, condensing means for forming lint into a bat, and a conduit for guiding the bat from the condensing means, said conduit including cooperating convergent walls arranged for engagement by the margins of the bat in its progressive movement.

29. In. a machine of the class described,

the combination of a casing, a receiving drum operably mounted therein and having a lint receiving peripheral wall, a pair of cooperating accumulating rolls operably associatcd with the drum within the casing, said rolls being journaled'at different elevations relative to the drum so that their peripheral surfaces are tangent to an inclined plane facing the drum, said rolls having cooperating peripheral lint receiving walls disposed in the zone of centrifugal projection from the drum, means for impinging lint upon the drum, and means for rotating the drum and roll to project the lint from the drum onto the rolls and compress it thereon into a bat.

30; In a machine of the class described, the combination of a casing, a receiving drum operably mounted therein and having a pervious peripheral Wall, a pair of cooperating accumulating rolls operably associated with the drum within the casing, said rolls being j ournaled at different elevations relative to the drum so that their peripheral surfaces are tangent to an inclined plane facing the drum, said rolls having cooperating perforate peripheral Walls dis osed in the zone of centrifugal projection rom the drum, means for impinging lint upon the drum, and means for rotating the drum and rolls to project the lint from the former and accumulate it upon the latter.

31. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a casing, a receiving drum operably mounted therein and having a pervious peripheral wall, a pair of cooperating accumulating rolls operably associated with the drum within the casing, said rolls being journaled at different elevations relative to the drum so that their peripheral surfaces are tangent to an inclined plane facing the drum, said rolls having cooperating perforate peripheral Walls disposed in the zone of centrifugal projection from the drum, means for impinging lint upon the drum, means for rotating the drum to project the lint therefrom onto the rolls, and means for operating the rolls to form the lint accumulated on the respective rolls into a single bat and to express air therefrom.

32. Ina lint condensing machine, the combination of a casing, a receiving drum operable therein and having a peripheral lint selecting surface, accumulating rolls operably associated with the drum, the rolls being arranged laterally of the drum and below the upper portion of its peripheral sur face and having their peripheral walls tangent to an inclined plane facing the drum, said casing including means for guiding disseminated lint to the peripheral surface of the drum, means for operating the drum and rolls to project lint gathered on the former to the latter and to accumulate it upon the latter in uniform distribution.

33. In a lint condensing machine, the com bination of a casing, a receiving drum and accumulating rolls operably arranged therein, the rolls being arranged laterally of the drum and below the upper portion of its peripheral surface and having their peripheral walls tangent to an inclined plane facing the drum, said casing including means forguiding disseminated lint to the peripheral sur face of the drum, means for operating the drum to project lint gathered on its peripheral surface to the accumulating rolls, and means for differentiall operating the rolls to form lint received tliereon into a bat.

34. In a lint condensing machine, the combination of a receiving drum, means for guiding disseminated lint to the peripheral surface thereof, means associated with the drum for receiving foreign matter fromlint impinged thereon, a pair of cooperating accumulating rolls mounted to one side of and below the axis of the drum, said rolls having their peripheral surfaces tangent to an inclined plane facing the drum, and disposed in the zone of centrifugal projection from the drum, a casing inclosing portions of the drum and rolls and comprehending the path of centrifugal projection from the former to the latter, means for operating the drum to project lint gathered thereon to the rolls, and means for operating the rolls to form lint accumulated thereon into a bat.

35. In a lint condensing machine, the combination of a receiving drum, means for guiding disseminated lint to the peripheral surface thereof, means associated with the drum for receiving foreign matter from lint impinged thereon, a pair of cooperating accumulating rolls mounted to one side of and below the axis of the drum, said rolls having their peripheral surfaces tangent to an inclined plane facing th drum, and disposed in the zone of centrifugal projection from the drum, the casing inclosing portions of the drum and rolls and comprehending the path of centrifugal projection from the former to the latter, means for operating the drum to project lint gathered thereon to the rolls, and means for differentially and selectively operating the rolls to form lint accumulated thereon into a bat of uniform thickness and density.

36. In a lint condensing machine, the combination of a receiving drum, means for guiding disseminated lint to the peripheral surface thereof, means associated with the drum for receiving foreign matter from lint impinged thereon, a pair of cooperatin accumulating rolls mounted to one side 0 and below the axis of the drum, said rolls having their peripheral surface tangent to an inclined plane facing the drum, and having equivalent areas of their peripheral surfaces disposed in the zone of centrifugal projection from the drum, a casing inclosing portions of the drum and rolls and compre-- bending the path of centrifugal projection from the former to the latter, means for operating the drum to project lint gathered thereon to the rolls, and means for operating the rolls to form lint accumulated thereon into a bat.

37. In a lint condenser, the combination of a lint separating drum having a perforate peripheral wall for the reception of lint, means for guiding disseminated lint to the perforate wall, and means for regulating selectively the passage of air through different portions of the perforate wall independently.

38. In a line condensin machine, the combination of a separating rum having a perforate peripheral wall for the reception of lint, means for guiding disseminated lint to said perforate wall, means for operating the drum to discharge from said wall lint collected thereon, and means for selectively regulating the passage of air to different portions of said Wall independently.

39. In a lint condensing machine, the combination of a lint collectlng drum having a perforate peripheral Wall and affording egress for air from within said wall, means for guiding disseminated lint for impingement on. said wall, means for operating the drum to discharge from said wall lint gathered thereon, and means for regulating the passage of air through the perforate wall at different areas independently.

JOHN A. TAFT. 

